Rail-joint.



H. W. BEST. RAIL JOINT. APPLICATION FILED-MAYER 1912.

WITNESSES JNVENTOR Patented Jul 8, 1913.

HENRY -W. BEST, OF QUITMAN, GEORGIA. ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF 'TO IDA BEST. OF QUITlVIAN, GEORGIA.

RAIL-JOINT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

'itpplication filed May 27, 1912. Serial No. 699,964.

To 07K whom it may concern [Be it known that I. HENRY TV. BEST, a citizen of the United States, residing, at Quitman, in the county of Brooks and State g of Georgia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail-Joints. oi.-

manner that as the wheels pass thereover, a

constant clicking is audible.

It is the object of the present invention to overcome this objectionable feature, and at the same time to provide a simple, durable and inexpensive joint, which may readily be attached or detached, as desired.

With the above and other objects in view, this invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts all as hereinafter more fully described, claimed nd illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

'Figure 1 is a side elevation of the abutling terminalsof two rails, illustrating the same as connected by a rail joint forming the subject matter of the present invention, and also illustrating the means whereby said joint is completely covered; Fig. 2 is a simiiar view illustrating the cooperative ele- 46 merits of the rail joint or look, the same beingshown disconnected; Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken through the web of the twoabutting rails, illustrating the joint cooperating in locked engagement; and Fig. 4 is a central, vertical section taken along line 1-4; of Fig. 1.

The rail joint forming the subject matter of the present invention comprises extensions formed from the web of the abutting 50 terminals of two rails, said extensions being I provided with arms ortongues formed there on which are adapted to interlock. When the arms or tongues are in interlocking engagement, aspace is provided in the base 51?? of the rails and also in the tread thereof.

To eliminate this space and provide a smooth tread and base, an angle bar is mounted over said joint in such a manner that a smooth surface of the tread is pro vided, said angle bar being provided with outwardly extending flanges at its base which provide for the continuation of the bases of the rails and present a smooth surface.

-Reference being had more particularly to the drawings, A and B indicate the abutting terminals of a pair of rails of a. standard construction. The rail A has its web 10 provided with an extension 11, said extension having its outer terminal cut in divergent directions, forming the tongues 12-and the central bar 13. The central bar 13 is offset to one side of the web of the extension 11', while the tongues 12 are offset to the opposite side of said extension, as is clearly illustrated in F ig. 3. The opposite rail likewise has its web 14 provided with an extension 15.

The web of the rail B is cut in convergent directions, as illustrated in Fig. 2, forming a projection 16, said projection having on each side thereof the tongues or arms 1'7. The projectionlo is offset from the web in the direct-ion of the tongue 12 of the extension 11, and the tongues 17 carried by said projection are bent in a similar direction, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3.

In connecting the two extensions 11 and 15, the portion 15 of the extension 15 is inserted between the tongues 12 of the extension 11 (as illustrated in Fig.3), thus causing the projection 16 of said extension to bear against the body of the extension 11 of the web 10 and the tongues 17 carried by said project-ion to interlock with the tongues 12 of the extension 11, thereby causing an absolute locking engagement between the webs of the rails A. and B. This engagement naturally causes a break in the tread of the rails and also' in the base. In order to eliminate this break an angle bar indicated generally as C, illustrated in detail in Figs. 1 and 4, is superposed above the joint-and completely surrounds the same. This angle bar constitutes a tread bar 18 which is adapted to bear upon the joint heretofore described, and constitute an extension of the treads of the rails A and B, said tread bar 18 being provided with a depression 19 for the reception of the flange of the wheel. Said bar 18 is likewise providedwith the dependent arms 20 which are located-upon each side of the joint heretofore described and which completely cover the same, forming a housing whereby the elements of said joint are not subjected to the weather. The lower terminals of the dependent arms 20 of the angle bars C are provided with outwardly extending flanges Ql'which form a -continuation of the bases of the rails A'and-B, and provide a means whereby the angle bar may be spiked, if so desired, tothc adjacent tie.

Having flips fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire t5 secure by U. S. Letters Patent, is: I

1. A rail joint comprising the combina tion with a rail having'a longitudinally eX- tended web portion, said web portion being slit longitudinally and the intermediate por tion formed by said slits oitset;'of a meeting rail having a longitudinally extended web portion formed with end opening slots through which portions of said first mentioned web are adapted to project, said slots forming locking tongues for engagement with the last mentioned portions, whereby the rails are locked together.

its web portion extended longitudinally, said extended portion being slit-longitudinally for a portion of its length into three sections, the intermediate section being offset and having inwardly divergingrside.

edges, and a meeting rail having a longitudinally extended web portion, said last mentioned web ,portion being formed with outwardly converging end opening slots 2. A rail joint comprising a rail having through which the outer portions formed by said first mentioned slits are adapted to prO ect, said slots formingdocking tongues for engagementwith said lastmentioned portions.

a. A rail joint comprising a pair of rails having their web portions adjacent their meeting ends extended longitudinally, one of said web portions being sl1t longitudinally for a portion of its length to form a central outwardly converging portion and inwardly converging side portions, the central portion and side port-ions being offset in opposite directions; the other extended wvel'i" portion being formed intermediate its ends with inclined slots converging toward the free end of the web, said slotsextending transversely through said web and opening upon the longitudinal edges thereof, the portion of said last mentioned web disposed between the slots and the free end f said web forming locking. tongues and being ofi'set, the portion of the web between said tongues being similarly offset, said 1001c ing'tongues being adapted to engage the outer portions of said first. mentioned web formed by said slits, the portion of the second mentioned web which is disposed between the slots and the rail end being adapted to fit between the offset portions Of'Sitltl first mentioned rail web.

In testimony whereof I'aflix my signature in presence of two'witnesses.

. HENRY W. BEST.

Witnesses: WV. F. EnMoNnsoN, R. D. EDMoNDsoN;

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

i Washington, D. 0. 

